Folding leg assembly



Augf8, 1967 10. WS'ON 3 334,930

FOLDING LEG ASSEMBLY f File d Aug. 19, 1966 2 Shee1ts$heet 1 1 v F INVENTOR. CHARLES a. LARSON ATTORNEYS 8, 1967- I c. O.'LARSON 3,334,930

FOLDING LEG ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 19,. 19 66 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,334,930 FOLDING LEG ASSEMBLY Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, 111., assignor to Chas. 0. Larson Co., Sterling, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 573,691 7 Claims. (Cl. 287-14) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a folding leg assembly for supporting a table top or the like comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to the underside of a table top and providing a socket, an elongated leg mountable by the mounting bracket in an operative position wherein the longitudinal axis of the leg is disposed substantially perpendicular to the underside of the table top and a storage position wherein the leg is disposed substantially against the underside of the table top, the leg having a first mounting portion on the end thereof disposed toward the table top and shaped complementary to the socket for insertion thereinto to place the leg in the operative position, the leg having a second mounting portion independent thereof and shaped complementary to the socket for insertion thereinto to place the leg in the storage position, and fasteners releasably interconnecting the mounting bracket and the leg for locking the leg in the operative position thereof and for locking the leg in the storage positlon thereof.

This invention relates to a folding leg assembly, and particularly to a folding leg assembly for supporting a table top or the like.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved folding leg assembly including a mounting bracket for attachment to the underside of an associated table top and providing a socket, an elongated leg mountable by the mounting bracket both in an operative position wherein the longitudinal axis of the leg is disposed substantially perpendicular to the underside of the associated table top and a storage position wherein the longitudinal axis of the leg is disposed substantially parallel to the underside of the associated table top, the leg having a first mounting portion on the end thereof disposed toward the associated table top and shaped complementary to the socket for insertion thereinto to place the leg in the operative position thereof, the leg having a second mounting portion on the one end thereof and shaped complementary to the socket for insertion thereinto to place the leg in the storage position thereof, and

fastener means releasably interconnecting the mounting bracket and the leg for locking the leg in the operative position thereof and for locking the leg in the storage position thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding leg assembly of the type set forth wherein the mounting bracket and the leg have cooperating parts that tend to hold the leg in the position in which it is placed, i.e., either in the operative position thereof or the storage position thereof, without the use of any additional fastener means, the parts interfitting closely so as to hold the leg in the desired position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved folding leg assembly of the type set forth wherein the mounting brackets and the leg are both provided with elongated openings, whereby the leg can be shifted with respect to the mounting brackets and moved between the operative and storage positions thereof while a fastener is in place in the aligned openings and interconnecting the mounting bracket and the leg, the fastener means serving positively to lock the leg in both the operative position and the storage position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved folding leg assembly of the type set forth wherein the mounting bracket and the leg are formed of sheet metal shaped by standard forming and cutting operations, thereby to provide an inexpensive yet strong and highly useful folding leg assembly.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the folding leg assembly, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a table having mounted thereon four of the folding leg assemblies made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, three of the legs being shown in the extended operative position thereof and one of the legs being shown in the folded position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of one corner of the table of FIG. 1 illustrating the details of construction of one of the leg assemblies thereof, certain portions being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the parts of FIG. 2 as viewed from the right;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the fastener released and the leg dropped to a position to permit movement thereof into the folded position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 4 and illustrating the leg in the folded position thereof;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view on a further enlarged scale of the parts forming the folded leg assembly, a portion of the leg being broken away;

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section on an enlarged scale along the line 77 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale along the line 88 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a table 10, such as a card table, including a table top 11 on which are mounted four folding leg assemblies 20 made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the folding leg assemblies 20 being arranged so that each of the legs may be folded against the underside of the table top 11 along one of the edges thereof as illustrated by the folding leg assembly 20 disposed to the right in FIG. 1. The table top 11 as illustrated is generally square and includes a top surface 12, a bottom surface or underside 13 and a peripheral surface or edge 14.

Each of the folding leg assemblies 20 is identical in construction to the others, and accordingly, only one of the folding leg assemblies '20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8, like reference numerals being utilized to identify like parts throughout the drawings. The folding leg assembly 20 comprises a leg 21 which is generally U-shaped in cross section, as may be best seen from FIG. 8, that includes an elongated main wall 22 which extends the entire length thereof. Formed integral with the main wall 22 and extending substantially perpendicular thereto from the opposite edges thereof are two parallel, opposed and spaced-apart side flanges 23 which cooperate with the main wall 22 to provide a hollow leg of essentially U-shaped cross section-The side flanges 23 extend the entire length of the leg 21, the upper edge of the main Wall 22 being designated by the numeral 24 and the upper edges of the side flanges 23 being designated by the numeral 25. Each of the side flanges 23 further has formed therein a longitudinally extending elongated opening 26, each of the openings 26 being disposed generally centrally transversely of the associated side flange 23 and having the longitudinal axis thereof disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg 21. There further is provided in each of the side flanges 23 and spaced just below the lower end of the elongated opening 23 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) a transverse or lateral slot 27, the slots 27 as illustrated extending from the free edge 28 of the associated side flange 23 and normal to the longitudinal axis of the leg 21 and terminating at a point in alignment with the adjacent edge of the associated opening 26. Finally, the lower end of the leg 21 carries thereon a foot 29, the foot 29 having a non-marring surface to be placed in contact with an underlying support surface.

The leg 21 is hingedly attached to the table top 11 by means of a pair of leg brackets or mounting brackets 30, the mounting brackets 30 each including a main plate 31 which is substantially rectangular in shape and has a width slightly greater than the distance between the outer surface of the main wall 21 and the edge 28 of the side flanges 23 and having a vertical extent that is substantially equal to the distance between the upper end of the leg 21 and the upper edge of the slots 27. In order to mount the bracket 30 on the underside 13 of the table top 11, an integral mounting flange 32 has been provided, the flange 32 being integral with the upper edge of the main plate 31 and extending beyond the ends thereof, a plurality of openings 33 being provided in the mounting flange 32 to receive screws 34 therethrough for attaching the mounting bracket 30 to the table top 11 (see FIG. 6 also). The main plate 31 also carries a pair of side flanges or retaining flanges 35 likewise integral therewith and disposed substantially normal thereto, the retaining flanges 35 being integral with the vertical edges of the main plate 31 and extending therefrom substantially parallel to each other and in a direction opposite to the mounting flange 32. The vertical extent of the retaining flanges 35 is approximately one-third of the vertical extent of the main plate 31 and is slightly less than the length of the lateral slots 27 in the leg 21; also the length of the side flanges 35 (see FIG. 3) is less than one-half of the width of the leg main wall 22. Finally, there is provided in the main plate 31 essentially centrally thereof in a lateral direction and disposed toward the lower edges thereof an elongated opening 36, the axis of the opening 36 being disposed normal to the flange 32 and normal to the underside 13 of an associated table top 11 when the mounting bracket 30 is in the operative position.

It will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 7 that the mounting brackets 30 are spaced-apart a distance such as to receive therebetween the upper end of the leg 21, the side flanges 23 of the leg 21 being disposed against and substantially parallel to the main plates 31 of the mounting brackets 30; with the parts thus arranged, the mounting flanges 32 extend laterally outwardly away from the upper end of the leg 21, but the retaining flanges 35 extend inwardly toward each other and being disposed in two spaced-apart planes, the inner surfaces of the opposed pairs of the retaining flanges 35 being spaced-apart a distance only slightly greater than the distance between the outer surface of the main wall 22 and the longitudinal edges 28 of the side flanges 23. As a consequence, the mounting brackets 30, and specifically the main plates 31 and the retaining flanges 35 thereof form a socket having dimensions closely to receive therein the upper end of the leg 21 when the longitudinal axis of the leg 21 is disposed substantially normal to the underside 13 of the associated table top 11. More specifically, the inner surfaces of the main plates 31 are disposed parallel to and adja cent to the outer surfaces of the leg side flanges 23; one pair of the aligned retaining flanges 35 (the pair disposed to the right in FIG. 2) has the inner surfaces thereof lying in a plane parallel to the outer surface of the leg main wall 22; and the other pair of aligned retaining flanges 35 (the pair disposed to the left in FIG. 2), has the inner surfaces thereof lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal edges 28 of the leg side flanges 23.

From the above description it will be seen that the leg 21 will be held in the operative position with respect to the mounting brackets 30' without additional fastening means so long as the table top 11 is not lifted upwardly with respect to the leg 21. However, in order fixedly to hold the leg 21 in the operative position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bolt 40 has been provided, the bolt 40 including an enlarged head 41 carrying therebeneath a square portion or shoulder 42 and carrying an elongated shank 43 extending through the aligned pairs of openings 26 and 36. The outer end of the shank 43 is threaded as at 44 and receives thereon a wing nut 45. The square shoulder 42 is shaped to fit into the adjacent pair of aligned openings 26-36, whereby to prevent rotation of the bolt 40 with respect to the mounting brackets 30, and the head 41 and the wing nut 45 are substantially larger than the transverse or narrow dimension of the openings 26-36, whereby they bear against the adjacent main plates 31. Tightening of the wing nut 45 on the bolt 40 presses the main plates 31 of the mounting brackets 30 inwardly against the side flanges 23 of the leg 21, thereby fixedly to hold the upper end of the leg 21 in the operative position with respect to the mounting brackets 30 and with respect to the table top 11.

From the above it will be seen that the upper end of the leg 21 in effect provides a first mounting portion shaped complementary to the socket formed by the cooperation of the mounting brackets 30, and specifically by the main plates 31 and the retaining flanges 35 thereof. The socket thus formed also cooperates with a second mounting portion on the upper end of the leg 21, this mounting portion being disposed at a angle with respect to the first mounting portion and comprising that portion of the upper end of leg 21 disposed between the lateral slots 27 in the side flanges 23 and the upper end of the leg 21. More specifically, by simply loosening the wing nut 45 upon the bolt 40, the leg 21 can be shifted to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the upper edge 24 of the main wall 22 and the upper edges 25 of the side flanges 23 are spaced downwardly with respect to the retaining flanges 35. The leg 21 can now be pivoted about the bolt 40 until the longitudinal axis of the leg 21 is disposed parallel to the underside 13 of the table top 11. The leg 21 then can be shifted in a direction generally parallel to the underside 13 of the table top 11 until the slots 27 are in alignment with the retaining flanges 35 disposed to the left in FIG. 4, this movement of the leg 21 being possible because of the provision of the elongated openings 26 in the side flanges 23 thereof through which extends the bolt 40. When the slots 27 are in alignment with the retaining flanges 35- disposed to the left in FIG. 4, the leg 21 can be shifted bodily upwardly, the retaining flanges 35 to the left in FIG. 4 entering the slots 27, the upper edges 25 of the side flanges 23 being disposed inwardly with respect to the inner surface of the retaining flanges 35 disposed to the right in FIG. 4, and the upward movement of the bolt 40 being accommodated by the elongated openings 36 in the mounting brackets 30. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the leg 21 can be shifted bodily upwardly until the free longitudinal edges 28 on the flanges 23 are in abutment with the underside 13 of the table top 11, this being referred to as the storage position of the leg 21.

If the table top 11 is turned over, the leg 21 will remain in its storage position without further structure. However, if it is desired positively to lock the leg 21 in the storage position thereof, it is necessary only to tighten the wing nut 45 upon the bolt 40. This action deflects the main plates 31 of the mounting brackets 30 inwardly and presses the inner surfaces thereof against the outer surfaces of the leg side flanges 23, thus positively to lock the leg 21 in the storage position illustrated in FIG. 5.

When it is desired to shift the leg 21 from the storage position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the operative position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is necessary simply to reverse the above sequence of steps. More specifically, the wing nut 45 is loosened on the bolt 40 thus permitting the leg 21 to be shifted bodily downwardly, this movement being accommodated by the movement of the bolt 40 downwardly in the elongated slots 36, the parts being moved downwardly until the retaining flanges 35 to the left in FIGS. 4 and 5 are cleared from the lateral slots 27. Thereafter the leg 21 can be pivoted to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Then the leg 21 is shifted bodily upwardly until the upper end thereof is received in the socket provided by the cooperation of the mounting brackets 30, after which the leg 21 can be locked in the operative position thereof by tightening the wing nut 45 upon the bolt 40.

Preferably the leg 21 and the mounting brackets 30 are formed of sheet metal cut and shaped to the form illustrated, this resulting in an economical yet strong construction of the folding leg assembly From the above it will be seen that there has been provided a folding leg assembly which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding leg assembly for supporting a table top or the like comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to the underside of an associated table top and providing a socket, an elongated leg mountable by said mounting bracket in an operative position wherein the longitudinal axis of said leg is disposed substantially perpendicular to the underside of the associated table top and a storage position wherein said leg is disposed substantially against the underside of the associated table top, said leg having a first mounting portion on the end thereof disposed toward the associated table top and shaped complementary to said socket for insertion thereinto to place and to hold said leg in the operative position thereof, said leg having a second mounting portion on said one end thereof and shaped complementary to said socket for insertion thereinto to place and to hold said leg in the storage position thereof, and fastener means releasably interconnecting said mounting bracket and said leg for locking said leg in the operative position thereof and for locking said leg in the storage position thereof.

2. A folding leg assembly for supporting a table top or the like comprising an elongated leg of .generally U-shaped cross section including an elongated main wall extending substantially the length thereof and opposed spaced-apart side flanges on the longitudinal edges of said main wall extending substantially the length thereof, a pair of mounting brackets hingedly connecting the upper end of said leg to the underside of the associated table top so that said leg can be moved between an operative position with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially perpendicular to the underside of the associated table top and a storage position with the longitudinal free edges of said side flanges disposed substantially against the underside of the associated table top, each of said mounting brackets including a main plate adapted to be attached to the underside of the associated table top and extending substantially normal thereto and arranged substantially parallel to each other and spaced-apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the outer surfaces of said side flanges to receive the upper end of said leg therebetween, a pair of retaining flanges disposed on the longitudinal edges of said main plates and extending substantially normal thereto and toward the other of said main plates and cooperating therewith to form a socket snugly receiving the upper end of said leg therein to place said leg in the operative position thereof, a set of aligned elongated first openings formed in said leg side flanges substantially centrally thereof with the longitudinal axes of the first openings being disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said leg, a set of aligned elongated second openings formed in said main plates substantially centrally thereof with the longitudinal axes of the second openings being disposed substantially normal to the underside of the associated table top, said first and second sets of openings being disposed in alignment when said leg is in the operative position thereof, and fastener means extending through said aligned openings and clamping said main plates against said side flanges positively to lock said leg in the operative position thereof, said leg flanges having laterally disposed slots therein extending from the free edge thereof inwardly toward said main wall a distance slightly greater than the distance from the lower edge of said retaining flanges to the upper edge of said main plates and having a width to receive one of said retaining flanges therein, said slots being spaced from the upper end of said side flanges a distance only slightly less than the distance between the inner surfaces of the retaining flanges on said main plates, whereby upon loosening of said fastener means said leg can be withdrawn from said socket while retaining said fastener means in said aligned openings after which the leg can be pivoted so that the longitudinal axis thereof is substantially parallel to the underside of the associated table top to place said slots in alignment immediately below one of said retaining flanges after which said leg can be shifted bodily upwardly against the underside of the associated table top and to place said retaining flange in the associated slot and thus to place said leg in the storage position thereof, said fastener means extending through said aligned openings and clamping said main plates against said side flanges positively to lock said leg in the storage position thereof.

3. The folding leg assembly set forth in claim 2, wherein said fastener means comprises a bolt provided at one end with a head overlying the marginal walls of the associated opening and provided at the other end with threads, and a wing nut engaging said threads and pressing against the marginal walls of the associated opening.

4. The folding leg assembly set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said main plates is provided with an integral mounting flange on the upper edge thereof extending therefrom substantially normally and in a direction opposite to said retaining flanges, said mounting flange having openings therein receiving fasteners therethrough for attaching said main plate to the underside of an associated table top.

5. The folding leg assembly set forth in claim 2, wherein said leg has a foot on the other end thereof providing with a smooth outer surface for non-marr-ing contact with an underlying support surface.

6. A folding leg assembly for supporting a table top or the like comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to the underside of an associated table top and providing a socket that is essentially rectangular in cross section along a plane parallel to the associated table top, an elongated leg mountable by said mounting bracket in an operative position wherein the longitudinal axis of said leg is disposed substantially perpendicular to the underside of the associated table top and a storage position wherein the longitudinal axis of said leg is disposed sub stantially parallel to the underside of the associated table top, said leg having a first mounting portion on the end thereof disposed toward the associated table top and shaped complementary to said socket for insertion thereinto to place said leg in the operative position thereof, said leg having a second mounting portion on said one end thereof and shaped complementary to said socket for insertion thereinto to place said leg in the storage position thereof, said first and second mounting portions also being rectangular and having dimensions slightly less than those of said socket, and fastener means releasably interconnecting said mounting bracket and said leg for locking said leg in the operative position thereof and for locking said leg in the storage position thereof.

7. A folding leg assembly for supporting a table top or the like comprising a sheet metal mounting bracket for attachment to the underside of an associated table top and providing a socket, an elongated leg formed of sheet metal and mountable by said mounting bracket in an operative position wherein the longitudinal axis of said leg is disposed substantially perpendicular to the underside of the associated table top and a storage position wherein the longitudinal axis of said leg is disposed substantially parallel to the underside of the associated table top, said leg having a first mounting portion on the end thereof disposed toward the associated table top and shaped complementary to said socket for insertion thereinto to place said leg in the operative position thereof, said leg having a second mounting portion on said one end thereof and shaped complementary to said socket for insertion thereinto to place said leg in the storage position thereof, and fastener means releasably interconnecting said mounting bracket and said leg for locking said leg in the operative position thereof and for locking said leg in the storage position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,677,583 5/1954 Larson 287-14 2,683,069 7/1954 Kimmel 287l4 2,735,702 2/ 1956- Larson 28714 2,769,650 11/1956 Larson 287-14 2,796,268 6/1957 Larson 28714 2,873,987 2/ 1959' Larson 287-14 3,082,025 3/1963 Larson 28714 0 G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING LEG ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING A TABLE TOP OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERSIDE OF AN ASSOCIATED TABLE TOP AND PROVIDING A SOCKET, AN ELONGATED LEG MOUNTABLE BY SAID MOUNTING BRACKET IN AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID LEG IS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ASSOCIATED TABLE TOP AND A STORAGE POSITION WHEREIN SAI LEG IS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ASSOCIATED TABLE TOP, SAID LEG HAVING A FIRST MOUNTING PORTION ON THE END THEREOF DISPOSED TOWARD THE ASSOCIATED TABLE TOP AND SHAPED COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID SOCKET FOR INSERTION THEREINTO TO PLACE AND TO HOLD SAID LEG IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF, SAID LEG HAVING A SECOND MOUNTING PORTION ON SID ONE END THEREOF AND SHAPED COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID SOCKET FOR INSERTION THEREINTO TO PLACE AND TO HOLD SAID LEG IN THE STORAGE POSITION THEREOF, SAND FASTENER MEANS RELEASABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID MOUNTING BRACKET AND SAID LEG FOR LOCKING SAID LEG IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF AND FOR LOCKING SAID LEG IN THE STORAGE POSITION THEREOF. 